Songyang Zhou
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Methods Mol Biol. 2011;735:1-11. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-092-8_1.
Telomeres are ends of chromosomes that play an important part in the biology of eukaryotic cells. Through the coordinated action of the telomerase and networks of other proteins and factors, the length and integrity of telomeres are maintained to prevent telomere dysfunction that has been linked to senescence, aging, diseases, and cancer. The tools and assays being used to study telomeres are being broadened, which has allowed us to derive a more detailed, high-resolution picture of the various players and pathways at work at the telomeres.
端粒是染色体的末端，在真核细胞生物学中发挥着重要作用。通过端粒酶以及其他蛋白质和因子网络的协同作用，端粒的长度和完整性得以维持，以防止与衰老、老化、疾病和癌症相关的端粒功能障碍。用于研究端粒的工具和检测方法正在不断拓展，这使我们能够更详细、高分辨率地描绘出在端粒处起作用的各种参与者和途径。
